Window-washer&#39;s safety device



Y L. WILCSON 1,711,867

May 7, 1929.

AT'IMIIY Patented May 7, 1929.

V UNITED STATES rinse? NT" OFFICE.

PA'TE LUDVVIG WILSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WINDOW-WASHERS SAFETY DEVICE.

' Application filed August 5 1925. Serial No. 48,362.

. The present invention relates to window washers safety devlces and 1S partlcularly concerned with terminal couplings for an-, vchors provlded upon bu ldings for secur1ng provide a reserve supporting surface in case of fracture of the parts about the other opening, or its supporting lug.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel coupling structure having a pair of 'openingsseparated by a web, said openings being adapted to receive the lugs and head ofan anchor and said coupling being adapted to enclose the heads to prevent anypossibility of the clothes or other para-- phernalia of the window washer catching upon the heads. V

Another object of the vision of a double safety coupling having means for engagement with a pair of spaced anchor lugs to prevent turning of the coupling and having inclined camming flanges beneath the heads of the anchor for drawing the coupling into firmv engagement with the anchor. l

Another object of the invention is the provision of a double safety coupling comprising an elongated body having side walls for enclosing the heads of theanchor, an open bot.-

tom to recelve said heads, aitransverse stop wall to engage'one ofisaid heads and a resilient latch cooperating with the other head to prevent disengagement of said coupling;

' Other objects and advantages ofmy. invention will appear more fully fromthe following description and from the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference indicate similar several views.-

Referring to the elevational view of pling and anchor showing a medial crossdrawings, Fig. 1 is a front my coupling applied to section of the coupling in coupling position; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the coupling inthe process of removal Fig. 4is a plancross-sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2; i

invention is the proparts throughout the Fig.5 is a view in chor. V

Referringto Figs. 1 to 8, 1 indicates my anchor in its entirety and t indicates thecoupling as a whole. I I Y The anchor 1 comprises an elongated fiat body 13 having transverse securing flanges 14 and 15 at one end. The body 13 is made flat in order thatit may be laid between the courses of brick with the flanges 14 and, 15 enperspective of my ana gaged behind the rear side of adjacent bricks 1 and the transverse yoke 16 exposed on the fiace of the wall adjacent the side of the winow. f The body 13 may also be formed with a plural ty of serrations forming shoulders 17 along 1ts edge to better engage the adjacent mortar for securing the anchor.

, The yoke 16 preferably extends at right angles to the body 13 andis generallylocated vertically upon the wall of the building. At

each end ofthe yoke 16 are located lugs18 and 19 having heads 2 and 3 respectively for retaining the coupling 4;. 1 z

Other details of construction of the anchor will be explained in connection-with the coupling 4 since the spacing of thelugs 18 and 19 have ajdefinite relation to the length ofthe coupling. I

While I have shown a preferred form of anchor,.I desire it to be understood thatmy coupling maybe used with any of the numeroustypes of anchors now on the market, provided its parts are made of proportionate slze for the anchor. I j I The coupling 4 comprises an elongated member having a transverse partition or web 6 which forms apart of two spaced longitudinal-walls 5 extending in one direction from the partition and two similar walls 20 extending in the opposite directiomthe walls 5, 20 on each side of the couplin being formed as one continous piece. The coupling is slotted as at 21, 24 to receive the lugs 18 and 19, respectively, of the anchor, the partition 6 and walls 5 and 20 defining two anchor-receiving openings 22 and 23,and, further, performing the function of, a stop for the head 3 ofv the anchor. The longitudinal walls 5'which ex-j' tend in one direction from the partition .6 are joined at their ends as at 25 and the walls 20 are likewisejoined at their ends by a yoke 26.

The connecting portion 25 is of the same shallow and only bridges the space between the upper edges of walls 20 in order that it shall not interfere with the insertion of the head 3 of the anchor.

A pair of flanges 9, ofshorter length than the slot 21 of the coupling, define a slot 27 of sufiicient width to receive the lugs 18 or 19 on the anchor, and the walls 5 are sufficiently spaced to receive the heads 2 or 3 of the anchor. The flanges 9 terminate at a point 28 sufliciently spaced from the partition or web 6 to permit the insertion of the head 2 in the upper opening and the flanges 9 may be slightly inclined as shown in Fig. 2 in order that they may cam beneath the head 2 to draw the coupling into closer engagement with the anchor.

The partition or web 6 extends the full depth of the walls 5 and 20 and is made of substantial thickness to provide the principal means of support of the coupling upon the anchor. A portion of this web 6 is inclined relative to the slotted face of the coupling and is formed with a slot 29, forming a part of the opening 23, to provide the inclined flanges 8 along each wall 20. By reason of the flanges 8 being inclined, they will cam against the head upon the anchor and draw the coupling into close engagement with the anchor.

The flanges 8 are likewise spaced from each other sufliciently to receive either of the lugs 18 or 19, but not sufliciently to pass the heads 2 or 3 and the walls 20 are sufliciently spaced to receive the heads of the anchor. It will thus be observed that since the base of the coupling is open as at 24 and, 28, the heads '2 and 3 may be inserted at these points and'the coupling may be slid down with the heads 2 and 3 above the flanges 8 and 9, the lugs 18 and 19 sliding in the slots 27 and 29 between the flanges. During this movement, the inclination of the flanges cams the couplingcloser to the anchor until the slotted face of the coupling contacts the yoke 16 of the anchor.

The yoke 26 of the coupling is provided with an aperture 30 adapted to receive a rivet 31 passing through the yoke and a resilient latching member 12. The resilient latching member 12 may consist of a strip of tempered steel extending from the yoke 26 over the partition 6 and projecting into the opening between the walls'5. The upper end 32 of the resilient member 12 is bent down to project between the walls 5 and to form a latch which is both capable of being cammed upward by a lug beneaththe end or cammed. into closer latching engagement by a lug above it. The

latch 12 is provided with a knob 33 for convenience in manipulation ofthe latch during the removal of the coupling. The partition 6 reinforces and supports the resilient member 12 so that it is practically impossible to unlatch the device except by lifting the latch by means of the knob 33. In other words, the

partition 6 prevents the latch from being turned in a clockwise direction in Figs. 2 and ing means on the harness of the window washer.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that p when the coupling is in proper position upon the anchor, the lower lug 19 and its head 3 are in engagement with the stop 6 while the upper lug 18 engagesthe flanges 9 on each side and the flanges are engaged below the head 2. If the length of the yoke 16 on the anchor is such that the upper lug 18 is not in engagement with the stop 7 or connecting portion 25 and if at any time the lower stop 6 should be broken, a reserve supporting means is provided by the upper lug and the stop 7, which may be the means of saving a window washers life. It should be noted that if a window washer. using such a coupling should slip and fall, a terrific strain is put which are not apparent upon the usual inspection, and consequently it is not practical in all cases to depend upon the strength of a single retaining stop. The fracture of the first step will clearly diminish the momentum of the falling body so that the second stop is subjected to much less strain and may be depended upon in an emergency.

The operation of the coupling is as follows:

The heads 2 and 3 may be inserted at the openings 28 and 2a. and the coupling slid downward relative to the anchor. this sliding movement, the lugs 18 and 19 pass between the flanges 9 and 8 respectively, and the heads are engaged above the flanges, the upper head 2 camming the spring 12 upward as shown'in Fig 3, after which the spring snaps behind the head 2. Continued movement of the coupling downward causes the coupling to be cammed against the anchor by the flanges 8 coming to rest when the stop 6 engagesthe lug 3. The coupling may be removedat any time by lifting the latch by means of the thumb as shown in Fig. 3 and sliding the coupling upward.

It will thus be observed that I. have invented a novel coupling having a pair of anchor receiver openings which are adapted to During vent any twisting movement, to provide a silient latch which may thus be made of greater length and resiliency.

While I have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of my'invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, andI do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A device of the type described comprising a body formed with a pair of openings separated from each other by a web, said Web provided witha slot forming a part of one of the openings, and a spring carried by the body and projecting into the other of said openings.

2. A device of the type described comprising a body formed with a pair of openings separated from each other by a web, and either of which is adapted to receive attaching means for the device, said webprovided with a slot forming a part of one of the openings, and a stop device carried by the body and projecting into the other of said openings for the purpose defined.

3. In combination with an anchor having a pair of spaced lugs, a coupling having longitudinal walls, spaced pairs of flanges formed on the longitudinal walls, one pair of said flanges extending diagonallytransverseone of said openings and supported at av point on its length by said web.

5. A device of the type described, comprising an elongated one piece body formed with an extension extending angularly from one end thereof and a pair of openings in said body separated from each other by an inclined web portion, a flange surrounding a part of one opening, said web provided with a slot forming apart of the other opening, and a spring carried by the body, projeoti ng into one of said openings and supported at a point on its length by theweb.

6. In a terminal coupling for'a-n anchoring device, an elongated one piece body having a plurality of openings, flanges projecting into said openings and terminating at a point spaced from. one end of each of said openings to admit heads of supporting studs, 1

and spring means supported by said body and projecting into oneof said openings to obstruot one of saidopenings. 1

7. In a terminal coupling for an anchoring device, an elongated one piece body having a plurality of openings, flanges projecting into said openings and terminating at a point spaced from one end of each of said openings to admit heads of supporting studs, spring means supported by said body and project ing into one of said openings to obstruct one of said openings, and stop means for said spring means. p

8. In a terminal coupling for a safety harness, the combination of a coupling having a pair of anchor receiving openings therein, with an anchor having a pair of studs, heads on said studs, and flanges in said openings for engaging beneath said heads. I

9. In a terminal coupling fora safety harness, the combination of a coupling having a pair of anchor receiving openings therein, with an anchor having a pair of studs, heads on said studs, and flanges in said openings for engaging beneath said heads, the flanges in one of said openings being inclined to cam said couplinginto engagement with, said anchor.

10. In a terminal coupling for a safety harness, the combination of a coupling having a pair'of anchor receiving openings therein, with an anchor having a pair of studs, heads on said studs, said openings being formed to receive said heads at one end and engage below said heads at the other end, one of said studs being in supporting engagement with the upper end of one of said openings and the other of said studs being spaced from the end of'the other of said openings to form a reserve supporting member.

11. In a terminal coupling for a safety harness, the combination of a coupling having a pair of anchor receiving openings therein, with an anchor, engaging members on said anchor to be received in said openings, heads on said members for retaining said coupling, the upper end walls of said openings being spaced a greater distance than the corresponding engaging surfaces of said engaging members are spaced whereby one of said members and openings provides a reserve securing means. I

12. In a terminal coupling for a safety harness, a metal member having a pairof openings therein, inwardly extending flanges in said openings, said flangesterminating at a point spaced from one end of each of said openings to receive the heads of an anchor, lateral Walls projecting above said flanges, and ayoke connecting said lateral walls, said sov yoke having an opening for attaching "a longitudinal walls projecting above said harness. flanges, a yoke connecting said longitudinal 10 13. In a terminal coupling for a safety harwalls, said yoke having an opening for atness, a metal member having a pair of opentaching a harness, and a resilient member carings therein, inwardly extending flanges in ried by said yoke and projecting between said said openings, said flanges terminating at a longitudinal walls to form a latch; point spaced from one end of each of said In testimony whereof I aflixiny signature. openings to receive the heads of an anchor, LUDWIG WILSON. 

